Ethiopia

Etiopia

Water is changing lives in southern Ethiopia

Ethiopia, like many other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, faces the severe impacts of climate change, contributing, for example, to sudden natural disasters such as flash floods and landslides. Caritas Czech Republic is helping people in southern Ethiopia gain access to water while strengthening their climate resilience. We have also supported women by involving them in economic and community activities. At the same time, we are working to improve local hygiene and sanitation conditions. 

Why is help in Ethiopia still needed?

For many families, water scarcity is a daily reality. People spend hours searching for a safe water source, children often miss school because of it, and health problems caused by contaminated water threaten entire communities. Access to safe drinking water, hygiene, and healthcare is therefore essential for improving people's quality of life and strengthening the long-term resilience of local communities.

7 things you might not know about climate change

How Caritas Czech Republic helps

Access to water

Access to water

In cooperation with the local Caritas and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, we secured a safe, reliable water source for village communities in southern Ethiopia. As a result, local people no longer have to spend long hours fetching water elsewhere and can be confident that clean water will not endanger their health. The maintenance of the water supply system was also entrusted to local committees made up of both women and men.

Support for healthcare

Support for healthcare

In cooperation with local partners, we contributed to strengthening healthcare services in southern Ethiopia – from equipping health facilities to training local healthcare staff. We succeeded in reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases, easing the burden on overstretched health centres, and shifting healthcare from responding to acute emergencies toward longterm prevention and improved health and resilience of the entire community. 

Articles

Inspiring stories of women who refused to give up
March 7, 2026 News

Inspiring stories of women who refused to give up

International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of the quiet strength and perseverance with which women support their families, communities, and even the entire world every single day. According to UN Women data from 2025, as many as 676 million women live close to armed conflict, and 376 million women and girls survive in extreme poverty below the threshold of 2.15 dollars per day, which is roughly 45 Czech crowns. Additionally, 1.8 billion people still lack access to drinking water at home, and women are responsible for its availibility in two out of three households. This year, Caritas Czech Republic aims to highlight the stories of those who, despite uncertainty and adversity, have found ways to help others – their families, neighbours, communities, and fellow women.

Access to water transformed the lives of Ethiopian families
March 2, 2026 News

Access to water transformed the lives of Ethiopian families

In the village of Banka Kebele, in southern Ethiopia, Caritas Czech Republic established a water system that now supplies 9,000 residents. Thanks to this activity, the community has become more self-sufficient. People’s health has improved, new income-earning opportunities have opened up, and they are now better prepared to face the impacts of climate change, which are strongly felt in the area. Between 2024 and 2025, Caritas Czech Republic operated here together with the Ethiopian Catholic Church Social and Development Commission Coordination Office of Soddo (ECC-SDCO/S) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. 

Almaz used to worry about her children’s health due to contaminated water. Today, she takes care of her community
January 15, 2026 News

Almaz used to worry about her children’s health due to contaminated water. Today, she takes care of her community

  Until recently, Almaz watched her children drink water with an anxious heart. The water was contaminated, posing an excruciating risk of stomach illnesses. Almaz and her family live in southern Ethiopia, where no other source of water was available. Last year, with support from Caritas Czech Republic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, and Caritas Ethiopia (ECC-SDCO/S), access to local water was restored. Thanks to this, Almaz no longer needs to worry about her children’s safety. Moreover, she saves several hours each week because she no longer has to fetch water from elsewhere. As a result, she has been able to grow her own vegetables and support the family budget. She has also taken responsibility for managing the water spring and has become the voice of her community.